5 years agoTexas Rangers relief pitcher Jose Leclerc pitched a scoreless ninth inning to earn his seventh save of the season Monday in Cleveland. Leclerc allowed a leadoff double to Jose Ramirez but was able to pitch around it and preserve the 1-0 win for Texas. Leclerc has struggled at times this season but appears to be the closer of choice for manager Chris Woodward. Leclerc has gotten the last two saves and Jesse Chavez, who got the first save after Chris Martin was traded, has pitched the eighth inning. Leclerc walks too many batters to be an elite closer option but does have a 33.3 percent strikeout rate to help make up for it and his 3.51 FIP is better than his 4.44 ERA. Leclerc should be treated as the closer for now but has little value beyond leagues where every reliever who gets saves is owned.--Mike Schwarzenbach - RotoBaller
Source: MLB